Salford Red Devils have been charged with breaching the RFL Operational Rules following crowd disturbances during their victory over Huddersfield in March.
As revealed in last week’s League Express, Salford are likely to be fined after their players were forced to go into the crowd to protect members of their families.
The charges relate to a breach of Operational Rule B1.5 (misconduct of spectators) and D1.1(b) (improper conduct).
Rule B1.5 states that clubs are “ responsible for the actions of its directors, players, officials, employees, representatives, spectators and all persons purporting to be its supporters and are required to use its Best Endeavours to take all precautions necessary to ensure that they do not act unlawfully and to prevent directors, players, officials, employees, representatives, spectators and all persons purporting to be its supporters from threatening, abusing or assaulting directors, officials, players, spectators, safety staff.”
Clubs must also ensure that “their spectators, or people purporting to be their supporters, do not act in a disorderly or improper manner either at its ground or at the ground of an opponent or at a neutral venue before, during or after the conclusion of Matches or otherwise behaving in an unruly or unlawful manner or in a manner which is prejudicial to the Game or amounts to improper conduct.”
Rule D1.1 (b) states “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game/improper conduct;”
The case has now been referred to an Independent Tribunal and a hearing date will be set for late June / early July.
